No Training Wheels

Chambers has been wanting his training wheels off for a while.  I didn't know if he was quite ready but Jer took them off and Chambers gave it a try.  Within a few tries he was getting really close.  He started to get frustrated, but I knew if he he could just not get frustrated he about had it.  Sure enough, by the next day he was riding all over.  He has since learned to get started by himself and how to brake.  I think we can actually go on a family bike ride today.  So proud of Chambers.  He is having so much fun on his bike and rides it everyday!

Skiing

We went skiing in Brianhead a couple Saturdays ago.  Jer takes the Young Men in our ward once a year and last year we had so much fun tagging along I made sure we were able to join him again.  Truman and Tacy had each been once before so we didn't put them in lessons again.  Looking back it probably would have been helpful to put Tacy in lessons for part of the day to get her used to things again.  She was a little grumpy until she picked it up again.  I just would have rather she been grumpy for an instructor instead of Jer and I.  Another reason why I can not teach my own kids!  I didn't even get a picture of Truman because this year he was off with friends.  He had a great time.  The weather was beautiful.  As you can tell it was so warm we didn't even wear jackets for most the time.  And thankfully there were no sunburns this year.  Another successful ski trip.  I might even get the kids season passes as they get older as gifts.  Truman and I are considering learning how to snow board next time.

Best Gift Ever

Our friend L'Deane gave us her bread machine a couple weeks ago that she doesn't use anymore.  It deserves a post all it's own because we have loved using it.  It's so cool that we can throw all the ingredients in, and a few hours later, have a warm loaf of bread.  It takes all the things I don't love about baking away.  No guesswork or time, just fresh bread.

The kids love to look through the window and see the progress.

It's the best when its just done and still warm!

Jer has actually used it tons more than I have.  It has been fun having something we can give to friends and neighbors as well.  Maybe the newness will wear off but for now it is our new favorite thing.

New Toy

For a while Jer and I have talked bout finding something we could do as a family.  We decided on an ATV in hopes that we could get away for a few hours or a day at a time and see some new places.  Jer's family is big into ATV's as well so we can also use it when we do things with them.  When we first got it we were only able to take 4 people at a time so we had to go in shifts to get everyone a ride in.  Jer replaced one of the seats and it can take 5 now.  We are waiting on the other seat to be able to fit all 6 of us!  Looking forward to a lot of fun family time.

Blog Catch Up

Here are some random photos from the last couple weeks.

The last 2 times Jer has gone out of town Chambers will come to my room a little while after I've put the kids to bed and come up with a random ailment so that he can sleep with me.  This night he told me he had coughed 2 times.  Even though he dan't coughed all day and wasn't sick at all.  Of course I gave in and had a sleeping buddy for the night.

I was able to go to the school and help at the Mountain Men Rendevous.

My boys are so into card games.  As you can see we are even playing a round before they are out of their pajamas for the day.

Chambers thinks it is so funny to climb to this spot and see what reaction he can get out of me.

I took Prentice out to dinner one night.  We branched out and went to "The Crepery."  It was fun to be with her.

When Jer isn't able to get off work in time, I get to take all the kids to piano lessons.  They do pretty good with their back pack full of activities.

Tacy finished another season of basketball.  She made the biggest improvements ever this season.  No matter what you an always count on her to give it her all.  This all girl team could beat any of the other teams that were mostly made up of boys.

Cardon was VIP last week.  We had fun going back and looking through pictures to put on his board and tell all about him!

Happy Birthday, Austin

A couple weeks ago I told Cardon early in the week that on Sunday he should wear his camo shirt for Austin since it would have been his birthday.  He is their cousin that was killed in a car accident a couple years ago.  When Cardon came down for church Sunday morning he was wearing his camo shirt with his tie.  I'm not the kind of mom that let's my kids dress crazy much but I just couldn't bring myself to tell him to take it off and wear it after church.  So for the first time one of my kids went to church in a bit of a random outfit.  Jer and I thought it was the cutest thing for him to remember and want to wear it to church.  The tie he added is for sure a bonus!  We had lots of questions about his look at church that's for sure!

After church we spent some time outside which is just what Austin would have wanted us to do on his birthday.

Happy Birthday Austin!  We miss you.

Dentist Check Up

Still no cavities and great teeth for these four!  I do need to take Truman to the orthodontist in the next little while since all his permanent teeth are in.  I guess we will see if and probably when he needs braces.  Seems like a lot of Truman's and Tacy's friends have braces already so I'm glad we haven't needed them thus far!

Snow Canyon

We bought a state park season pass this year and are looking forward to enjoying some time outdoors.  On President's Day we went to Snow Canyon and enjoyed a day off from school and work.  Jer happened to be the one taking pictures.  We couldn't believe how green everything was.  I don't remember seeing it so green.  It looked so neat against the beautiful rocks.  We were able to spend a few hours and are excited to go back.

Valentines!

Truman made me promise I wouldn't get up on Valentines because he was going to make breakfast.  I made myself obey and stayed in bed while I could hear him working in the kitchen.  When I got up he had left for school and there was a huge bowl of pancake batter that looked like sugar cookie dough.  I felt bad he tried to make breakfast and somehow like tripled the recipe without adding enough liquid.  It made me so happy he was so kind but a little sad he hadn't been able to quite finish like he had planned.  I finished them up and it actually worked out well to freeze a lot of them for another time.  I called the school later and had them leave him a note thanking him and telling him I loved him.  Such a sweet gesture.

That afternoon we headed to the park for a picnic lunch for the boys. Jer took me to lunch a little later at Cafe Rio.

After we went to a basketball game of Tacy's Jer made a nice dinner of steak, potatoes and veggies.

Jer got me a certificate to have the house cleaned and I got us silicon rings to wear when we work, do things outside, and for Jer to wear to work.

Earlier in the afternoon I was also able to take Chambers and help in Cardon's class for his Valentine party.  It was a lot of fun.  Chambers was just like one of the kindergartners!  I hardly saw him.  I guess maybe he is ready for preschool!